Photographic camera



March 29, 1927. y 1,622,925

W. E. ROSS PHOTOGRAPHIC CAMERA Filed March 12, 1925v Patented Mar. 29, 1927.

UNITED STATES WALTER ELMER ROSS, 0F HIBBS, PENNSYLVANIA.

PHOTOGRAPHIC CAMERA.

Application filed March 12, 1925.

- This invention relates to an improved :amera construction, preferably embodying a novel arrangement whereby to permit writing of memoranda, and other indicia upon a film or memorandum strip which is fed with the film, while the saine is in the camera. and in'm'iediately after the exposure has been taken.

An important object of this invention is the provision of a novel type of photogral'ihic camera, embodying apparatus which will permit of the writing of memoranda upon the conventional backing and film pro- 'teeting` paper which is found upon roll and pack films, and embodying a novel arrangement for excluding light fiom the sensitized surface of the film.

A further object of this invention is the provision of a photographic camera embodying means to inscribe appropriate designations upon the backing strip of protecting paper found in connection with photographic films, the improved device being particularly well adapted for use in connection with a boX't-ype of camera, the same being simple in construction, and relatively cheap to manufacture.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will be apparent during the course of the following detailed description.

In the accompanying drawing, forming a part of this specification, and wherein similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views.

Figure 1 is a longitudinal cross sectional view taken throughk the box type of camera, for which the improved film recording apparatus is particularly well adapted to be used, showing the same in position for use.

Figure 2 is a transverse cross sectional view taken through the camera and improved details thereof, substantially at right anglesV to the view illustrated in Figure 1.

Figure .3 is a plan `view of the improved ramera, sl'iowing the novel details thereof in position ready for record entry Yhy an operator.

Figure Ll is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken through novel details of the camera` substantiallyv on the line 4--41 of Figure 3. y

.Figure 5 is a plan view showing a finished picture with the record slip attached thereto', after the picture has been developed.

In the drawing, wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown only a preferred Serial No. 15,005.

embodiment of this invention, the letter A may generally designate the camera, which may include the housing B; detachable lens and film supporting shell C; and the improved apparatus D cooperatively formed with the housing B and shell C to permit the writing of memoranda upon a record entry slip which cooperatively travels with the film as it is fed thru the camera after exposure.

In the type of camerav illustrated in the drawing, commonly known as thebox type, the housing B comprises rigidly connected side wallsl and 16; bottom wall '17; top wall 18; front wall 18, and hingedly connected rear wall 19 pivoted as at 2O kto the bottom wall 17. In the front wall 18 an aperture 21 is commonly provided. A swivel catch member 23 is pivotally carried by the top wall 18 at the rear end thereof for cooperation over the free swinging end of the rear hinged wall 19, in accordance with conventional construction, to maintain the rear wall 19 closed. f

The shell C is detachable thru the opening when the rear wall 19 is open, and this shell C is of the economically produced rigid type, consisting of a. front wall 25; spaced side walls 26 and 27; and converging top and bottom walls 28 and 29 respectively, which converge from the rear edges of the side walls in uniformly inclined relation towards the lens structure 30a which is supported centrally of the front wall 25 of the shell structure C.

Means is provided upon the side walls 26 and 27, above and below the inclined top and bottom walls 28 and 29, and immediately adjacent the front'wall 25 for rotatably supporting take-up or winding and supply spools 30 and 31 respectively; the take-up spool 30, of course, being rotatably supported in the compartment 32 just abovev tho shell wall 28 and below the top wall 18 of the housingv B; andthe pply spool 31 is rotatably supported in the compartment rearwardly of the shell front wall 25 and between the walls 17 and 29, substantially as is illustrated in Figure 1 of the drawing, and as is conventional construction. At the rear top and bottom corners of the shell C, roller shafts and 86 are respectively rotatably supported, over which the film is trained as it passes from the supply roller across the open end of the exposure chamber 3T to the take-up spool 30.

CII

Any approved construction tor winding the take-up spool 3() niay be provided, such as the adjustable linger holding andgwind ing structure 8S, illustrated in Figure 2 ot' the drawing, which niay perinit the detachment ot' the take-up spool.

Referring to improved details of this invention which render he type ot cainera described particularly well adapted for the recording oi data tor the respective pictures, as they are taken, upon the tiling the top wall 1S ot the housing B is provided with an opening it), troni side wall to side wall 163, and this opening inlets into the conipartnient 32 between the top wall 18 ot the housing B and the top wall 28 of the shell C, The top wall 1S is thus divided into a front portion 112, and a rear portion i3, and the edges ot these portions yi2 and #13 facing the openings i() are 'taced with lelt or any other resilient material llo, substantially as is illustrate-d in Figure Ll oit the drawing. In analogous manner the top edges ot the side walls 15 and 16, outletting at the openings Ll() are provided with telt facing material 4T, as is illustrated in Figure 2 of the drawings.

A platen 50 is provided as a part et the structure D, including a plate portion 51 which at one end thereof is provided with a curled tlange 52 adapted to be slipped about the upper roller at the rear end oi' the camera; said plate portion 51 at the front end thereof boing provided with a right angled supporting iiange 53, which at the lower edge thereof is arcuated downwardly and upwardly, at 56, tor resting 'on thA sloping wall 2S. This platen 50 is located on theY shell C, in such inanner Yhat when the shell C is slipped into the compartment ot' the casing l, said body portion 51 of the plate will be immediately disposed below the opening Ll() ot the housing or casing B, providing a table surface as a writing support. The platen is thus connected with the shell C, and is niovable therewith.

ln position within the cainera A the tilin 5'0, and the liexible hacking paper 57 which accompanies all tih'ns lor protecting the sensitized surface thereof is wound troni the supply spool 31 rearwardly about the roller 3G and upwardly across the exposure chainber 3T and about the curled flange 52 of the platen 50. Frein here thel iihn and the baclring strip 5T are slidably supported upon the plate er body `iortion 51 ot the pinten 50, and engage about the take-up spool 3() in the approved inanner. lt is thus to be noted that the bach sur zace et' the backing strip 5? is uppermost, and both the backing strip and the lihn are positioned between the opening et() on tie body 51 et' the platen so that an operator may record data upon 4the rear surface ot' the backing strip 57, as will be subsequently mentioned.

ln the opening 40, an open polygonal shaped traine G() is provided, ot copper or analogous niaterial, which in cross section is U-shaped, providing a pocket facing' the opening 61 of said traine` adapted to receive e the marginal edges ot' a translucent piece ot Celluloid or inica G2, which is supported across the opening in said frame. The traine o() may also support therein a piece of carbon paper or ribbon (3ft, although this carbon paper or ribbon (El, as is illustrated in Figure el, may be glued or otherwise ai1- lixed to the lower suriace ot the translucent writing surface (32. rthe element 62 is relatively thick, and cannot break easily, and is so translucent 'that the light cannot pass therefrom tor the purpose ot' injuring the sensitized surface oit the iihn. To ell'ect the exclusienot all light, the Afelt lacings l5 and 4T cooperate with the traine. At the edge ot the portion '23 ot the top wall ol the camera which taces the opening il), an overhanging flange portion 65 provides a recess 6G which faces the opening 40, and into which the rear edge ot the traine C() is first shoved into compressed engagement against the telt facing eli-5, andthe traine (i0 is then pushed downwardly into snug titting rela tion in the opening 40, to obviate the passage ot all light into the cainera through the opening 0. A clamping and sealing traine 70, ot open polygonal shaped formation is provided for resting about the marginal portions ot the traine GO; said traine coinprising a nietal inner body 71 and an outer i'elt covering 72. The traine 70 provides the opening T?) therethrough tor exposing the translucent element ('32 upon which a person writes. Locking clips G8 and 69 are respectively swiveled upon the wall portions 112 and d8 tor maintaining the "ruine T() in a locked position both forwardly and rearwardly, to prevent its detachn'ient, and to more eilieetively seal the opening el() against liability of light passing into the camera. lt is to be particularly noted that vwhen the rames (i0 and 70 are in place, the top suri'ace ot the tranie 'T0 will be about tlusli with the top surface et the wall 18.

closure 8O is provided `l'or the opening L10, which is preferably 'ot inetal, comprising a body S1 with the side langes 853 therealong` in right angled relation therewith. 'lhe side flanges 83 are extended rearwardly ot' the rear edge ot the body S1, and are pivotally connected by pins 85 to the side walls 15 and 16. The closure SO rnay swing to a closed position over the opening 0, and over the trame TO, with the side lianges 83 lapping over the side walls 15 and 16. viren open itl is preferred that the closure SO be limited to an opening movement of approximately' 80, and this is effected by abutment ot' the edge Si against the top wall 18, as is illustrated in Figure 1 ot the drawing.

From the foregoing description of this invention it is apparent that a novel apparatus for recording of data in connection with exposures as they are'taken, has been provided, which may be embodied in any approved type of camera, either of the box or folding type. It is an essential feature of the invention that the recording is done on the film backing strip 57, and to this end the opening 10, is about as wide as an exposure, so that a relatively great writing surface is provided upon which all data pertinent to the picture may be entered. It is the common drawback of recording apparatus now used with cameras, that the space upon which the scribing may be done is relatively restricted. However, with the use of the device herewith described, a writing surface is provided which is of as great area as the picture itself will be when finislied.

IVhen the film has been developed and the picture separated, it is merely nnecessary to attach the record strip to the back of the picture, as is illustrated in Figure 5 of the drawings, where the numeral 90 refers to a picture which has been taken by the camera A, and to the back of which has been attached slip 91, which is really part of the backing strip which followed along with the exposure from which the picture 90 was made. The advantage of providing such a recording strip 91 will be apparent, since thereby a great surface for writing of records and the like is provided. The recort slip 91 is of course attached at its upper edge to the rear upper edge of the picture 90.

Various changes in theV shape, size, and arrangement of parts may be made to the form of invention herein shown and described, without departing from the spirit of this invention or the scope of the claims.

I claim:

1. In a camera the combination of a casing, adapted to receive a. film, a strip of paper within the casing adapted to be cooperatively placed with respect to the filni received therein, said casing having an opening therein, and a transfer sheet carried across said opening upon which a person may write for recording a message upon the strip of paper pertinent to an exposure of the film.

Q. In a camera the combination of a. film receiving casing providing an opening therein, means for moving a film in the camera, a memorandum strip cooperatively disposed with respect to said film, a carbon transfer sheet carried by the casing across said opening and adapted upon being Written upon to transfer a message onto the strip pertinent to exposures taken upon the film.

3. In a camera the combination of a film receiving casing providing an opening therein, a supporting platen in the casing below said opening, a backing strip of record entering nature for association with the camera film, means for passing the film through the camera so that the film and backing strip to gether move through the camera and between said platen support and the opening in said casing with the backing strip uppermost for the entering of records upon said backing strip. j

if. In a camera the combination of a casing providing an opening therein, a supporting platen in the casing below said opening, a backing strip of record entering nature for association with the camera film, means for passing the film through the camera so that the film and backing strip together move through the camera and between said platen support and the opening in said casing with the backing strip uppermost for the entering of records upon said backing strip, and a carbon transfer sheet carried in the opening of said casing adapted upon being written upon to transfer characters to the upperniost side of the backing strip associated with said film.

5. In combination a camera casing providing an opening therein, film supply and take-up rollers in the camera casing, a record entering paper strip for association in abutting relation with the film wound on said rollers, means guiding the movement of the film and record entering strip so that the film and record entering strip together pass across said opening in their movement from the supply to the take-up roller, a platen providing a supporting surface below the opening over which the film and record entering strip pass between the saine and the opening, a transfer sheet mounted in said opening including a carbon surface facing the recording strip, and a translucent flexible Plate carried in said opening over said transfer sheet for the purpose of writing upon to impress the carbon surface of said transfer sheet against said recording strip for entering data thereon.

6. In a camera the combination of a film receiving casing having an opening therein, a recording strip niovably associated with said film, lmeans for guiding movement of the film and recording strip across said opening with the recording strip facing said opening, a transfer sheet mounted in the opening including a carbon surface facing the recording strip, and a fiexible element providing a writing surface upon which an operator is adapted to write for transferring the carbon to the recording strip.

7. In a camera of the class described the combination of a casing providing an opening therein, flexible facing material in the edges about said opening, a frame for snug fitting in said opening into sealing engagement with said flexible material at the edges about Said opening, a translucent flexible lll() sheet of cellulose material carried in said frame across said opening, a carbon transfer sheet aliixed below said translucent sheet including a carbon surface facing inwardlT of the camera, and means for moving a ilm and its backing strip with the lattei` below said carbon surface.

S. In a camera of the class described the combination of a casing providing an opening therein, flexible facing material in the edges about Said opening, a frame for snug fitting in said opening into sealingengagement with said flexible material at the edges about said opening; a. translucent flexible sheet of cellulose material carried in said frame across said opening, a carbon transi'er sheet aliixed below said translucent shee including a carbon surface Vfacing inwardly of the camerznineans for moving a film and its backing strip with the latter below said carbon surface*7 and a closure for said opening.

9. In a camera of the class described the combination of a casing providing an opening therein, flexible facing material in the supporting edges about said opening, a frame for snug tling in said opening into sealing engage ment with said `flexible material at the edges about Said opening, a translucent flexible sheet of cellulose material carried in said :"f

trarne across said opening, a carbon transfer sheet aliixed below said translucent sheet inclu-ding a carbon surface facing inwardly of the camera, means for moving a lilm and its bacvliine1 strip with thelatter below said I flat shaped body portion having a curled f flange at one end thereof and a right angled flange at the opposite end thereof.

WALTER Emma Ross. 

